AZERI FM "PUZZLED" OVER U.S. RESPONSE TO SAFAROV LIBERATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 3, 2012 - 21:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a
telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William
Burns, Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said.
As Mammadyarov noted during a conversation, "Azerbaijan cannot
understand U.S. reaction over the liberation of Ramil Safarov."
Earlier, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Spokesman Tommy Vietor
commented on Azerbaijan's Decision to Pardon Ramil Safarov.
"President Barack Obama is deeply concerned by announcement that
the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following
his return from Hungary. Safarov confessed to the murder of Armenian
Army officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004, and was serving a
life sentence in Hungary for this brutal crime. We are communicating
to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment about the decision to
pardon Safarov. This action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce
regional tensions and promote reconciliation. The United States is
also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision
to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."
Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.
Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.
The Department of State, through a formal announcement issued by
Acting Deputy Spokesman Patrick Ventrell, also took a stand against
Hungary's extradition and Azerbaijan's pardon, explaining that: "The
United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President
of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who
returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. . . . We
are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action
and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan."
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 3, 2012 - 21:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a
telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William
Burns, Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev said.
As Mammadyarov noted during a conversation, "Azerbaijan cannot
understand U.S. reaction over the liberation of Ramil Safarov."
Earlier, U.S. National Security Council (NSC) Spokesman Tommy Vietor
commented on Azerbaijan's Decision to Pardon Ramil Safarov.
"President Barack Obama is deeply concerned by announcement that
the President of Azerbaijan has pardoned Ramil Safarov following
his return from Hungary. Safarov confessed to the murder of Armenian
Army officer Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest in 2004, and was serving a
life sentence in Hungary for this brutal crime. We are communicating
to Azerbaijani authorities our disappointment about the decision to
pardon Safarov. This action is contrary to ongoing efforts to reduce
regional tensions and promote reconciliation. The United States is
also requesting an explanation from Hungary regarding its decision
to transfer Safarov to Azerbaijan."
Ramil Safarov, the Azerbaijani army officer who was serving a life
sentence in Hungary for axing to death Armenian Lt. Gurgen Margaryan,
was extradited to Azerbaijan and pardoned by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev.
Official Yerevan reacted by suspending diplomatic ties with Hungary.
The Department of State, through a formal announcement issued by
Acting Deputy Spokesman Patrick Ventrell, also took a stand against
Hungary's extradition and Azerbaijan's pardon, explaining that: "The
United States is extremely troubled by the news that the President
of Azerbaijan pardoned Azerbaijani army officer Ramil Safarov, who
returned to Baku today following his transfer from Hungary. . . . We
are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this action
and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details from
Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to Azerbaijan."